8 Google Chrome tricks for your mobile

The mobile version of Google Chrome (free on iOS and Android) is simple to install and easy to use, but that’s not all – it’s also got a few incredibly useful tricks and features that aren’t very well known. So just for you, here are 8 hidden Chrome gems to take your browsing to the next level.

1. Search with your voice

Want to search for something using your voice rather than typing it all out? Not a problem. Because you can easily access Google Voice Search when you’re inside Chrome.

Simply tap the address bar, then tap the X to the right of the address bar, and tap the microphone icon.

You can then speak your search term or website address out loud, or perhaps even ask a question.

2. Learn about anything you see

If you’re reading a webpage on Chrome and want to know more about a particular word or phrase you come across, here’s what to do.

Press and hold your finger in the middle of the area you want to select, and then use the sliders that appear to select the words you want.

When you've done that, a white bar containing your words and a Google logo will appear at the bottom of your screen.

If you tap the white bar, you’ll then get a list of search results for your selection. Tapping on one of the results will open it as a new tab.

3. Search and swipe your tabs

Chrome lets you quickly swipe between open tabs, but the exact method depends on what mobile platform you’re on.

If you’re an Android user, put your finger on the Chrome toolbar and swipe left or right to go through your tabs.

If you’re an iOS user, put your finger at the edge of the screen and swipe inwards.

4. Get rid of tabs in one fell swoop

It’s easy to get rid of all your open tabs. First of all, swipe down on the Chrome toolbar to get a stacked view of them all.

Then all you need to do is tap the menu icon in the top right corner, and select ‘Close all tabs’.

5. Refresh yourself

If you need to refresh a Chrome webpage, you can do it with this simple pull-to-refresh gesture…

Make sure you’re scrolled to the top of the page, then put your finger anywhere in the browser area and pull down. When you see a circle with an arrow appear, let go. That’s it - you’re page has now been refreshed.

6. Swipe the Chrome menu button

Here’s a neat little trick to access the Chrome menu without lifting a finger.

Instead of tapping the menu icon, press your finger on it and swipe down.

You’re now in the menu, and you can move your finger up or down to select your menu option.

7. Synch with other devices

Did you know that Chrome can keep all your bookmarks and tabs available across different synced devices? This means you can log on to your PC at home and get to the same tabs you opened up on your phone earlier (and vice versa, of course).

To make sure your phone’s set up to sync, tap the menu icon, and then ‘Settings’.

Under your profile name at the top of the screen, you’ll see your sync status.

If it says ‘Sync is off’, tap on that message. You’ll then be taken to a screen with a ‘Sync’ option on it. Tap it, and enable the sync button at the top right of the screen.

If you’ve got any more Chrome tips and tricks, don’t keep them to yourself. Comment below and share your knowledge.